This story was originally intended for my IRL role play group. Unfortunately, my friends aren't fans of slow burn scary stories. I'm looking to run a group of 5-7. I decided to make the time period slightly historical to capture that campfire story feel.

As for the story itself, it revolves around the village's harvest festival and the popular purple pumpkins that only grow in the area. Slymere is quaint and isolated, situated on a cliff above the nearby settlements. Growing up in the valley, you might have heard old wives' tales about people vanishing in the woods without a trace. It's a popular story for scaring local kids into staying out of the woods, at least.

I want to focus on mystery, detective work, and suspense over gore and jump scares. Something a group of people can puzzle over, and an open setting to explore.

did someone say a mystery roleplay set in the 1973?

I adore this concept. Interested.

Glad to have a couple bites lol. I'm working on finer details for the village rn, such as a rough map and notable npcs. If not too many others show interest, I can adjust for a smaller group. Do either of you have a rough idea for a character? There's no real limits as far as backstory goes.

Oh and despite the time setting, bigoted attitudes more common from the time won't have a place in the story. You can be whoever you want to be and it won't bring about trouble.

@Morgrym76
I only have a few vague ideas and aspirations right now. I haven't written in a 70's chic setting before, so I want to explore some of the trends of the time at least. Here's I'm kicking around right now:
- An aspiring leather-clad punk/activist to the style of the period, who's tragically watered down and "held back" by the inertia, influence, and lack of nice leather jackets in such a rural and isolated community. Likely has a strong sense of morality and aspires to "stick it to the man" but has struggles that undermines that. Maybe something to do with cowardice or comfort, or being caught between the comfort of "selling out" and fear of "being a poser"?
- An old-school, circuit boards and hobby radios style nerd. Maybe something to the tune of a belated or distorted coming-of-age here? For this character, I was considering the struggle focusing around him wanting to be "cool" and involved but uncomfortable being out of his narrow comfort zone and "moving out of his lane", on top of being overtly a coward, as the mysterious happenings keep happening and they presumably become involved.
- An americano, flannel and boots rural farmers child from a classically conservative household, who struggles with their identity and how others might perceive them if they knew - namely, their sexuality. I'm not sure how I'd link this to the mysterious happenings yet or if it'd really be relevant. It could probably be meshed to some extent with the punk idea.

All very cool ideas. They all have a lot of potential plot and character development. I could even see them adding a valuable skill or insight to a group.

I'd also recommend a quick read about the technology of the time. Rotary phones, typewriters, cassette tapes. 1973 was the year the USA launched its first space station Skylab. Microwaves finally became affordable to the everyman. The very first arcade games are rolling out across the country. It's also two years until the first digital camera, meaning all photos have to be developed in a dark room. Perhaps most Sci-fi of all were the first pocket calculators and LCD/LED screens.

Personally, I think a naturalist or some kind of mountain climber would make a cool investigator.

@Morgrym76
I think my character should be rockroll girl who want to get out of this town and try to make it big

@sassy1085 That's cool, I like that idea. What do they play? Guitar?

I've got enough material to start soon. Would you two like to wait for more players?

@Morgrym76
yep

@Morgrym76
i'm down with whatever

Okay go ahead and start finalizing your backstories. We'll give it a couple more days, see if we can get anymore players.

How is everyone doing with their characters?

@Morgrym76
doing good

I realize now that I didn't give much detail about the village. I can give more lore for Slymere based upon your character's background. We can discuss that here or in a PM.

@Morgrym76
We can discuss it here if you want

@Morgrym76
I'm happy to discuss in either. I've got a core backstory sorted, which is a sorta amalgamation of the ideas I had earlier. I'm just hoping to filter it through you though, to add some specific Slymere flavour and set it up for anything that might help you as a GM.